This time of year is already stressful enough with the holidays, planning, and traveling. When you add major tests that have a big weight on your final grade then you may be close to a meltdown. Don’t fret about the stress of it all, instead plan on being proactive and get prepared for what’s about to come.
I came across these great pointers from Psychology Today on “Midterms and Finals: Making it through without falling apart“. Since some of these are based in the brick and mortar setting, I’ve changed them around to suit the online students schedule.
1. List out your assignments in a calendar. Give yourself something visual here, it’ll help you to prioritize better. And make sure it’s visible, like on the wall by your computer screen, on the fridge, etc.
2. Chat up your classmates. If you have a few you’ve talked with before, see if you can set up a time through your school’s chat or Facebook to go through parts of the class you may have questions on.
3. Visit your school’s library, and reach out for extra help. You’ll be using the online library throughout your degree program, but now is when you may need it most. Get more familiar with your schools’ library and its various databases.
4. Create a study schedule. This one is important. You HAVE to set aside time specifically for this. Cramming the night before is not typically effective, and it may stress you out even more. Write out your daily and weekend plans, and make sure to place an emphasis on the time you’re studying to not be interrupted.
5. Eat, get sleep, and take a walk. Now is not the time to lose weight from stress, so make sure you keep hydrated, and eat like you normally would. Get plenty of sleep and a bit of exercise as well.
If you do feel like the stress is getting the better of you, talk with your advisor. They can help put things into perspective and provide you with help. If a tutor is what you need, they can help place you with one. Get your mind set in the right place, and you’ll be ready to rock your exams.
Good luck!
By: J. Mason
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